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1.03.2011

GOODBYE STANLEY T. MADHATTER... MY DEAR FRIEND

Dear Kimmer: When you think you're alone, you're not. Madhatter will always be with you shining his flashlight to help you see your way...Patches (January 2011)

Madhatter Poster by Gabe Heiss

I just got a call this afternoon telling me that my dear friend Stanley T. Madhatter has passed away... Sigh... What can I say about my favorite Detroit rock emcee/historian/best bud? Well, I can tell you this, Stanley and I had a blast together since we first met at The Flintstock Rock Poster Show. Kimmer Meets Stanley T. Madhatter

Stan with Detroit Legend Johnny Bee Badanjek

I loved him so much...

When Lesley and I got to the show we went to find Carl Lundgren's booth. Standing with Carl was the legendary Stanley T. Madhatter. Carl introduced us and I stuck my arm out to shake hands with Hatter and instead... Stan slapped a VIP bracelet on me and off we ran to see Question Mark and the Mysterians! Oh, what a fun time! We were two teenagers no matter what decade we're in.

Stan with his best friend Carl Lundgren

Oh, what fun we had with Steve Godoy and The Bermondsey Joyriders riding around Downtown Detroit!

We took them to Lafayette for a hot dog, the Grande, Translove House, and more. As we were coming back to Ypsilanti at 6am Stanley said to me... "Good thing you don't have a boyfriend cause we couldn't be having this much FUN!"

Then we got to hang with Steve's brother Art Godoy and The Vibrators.. Both shows oddly enough were at Corktown. The Godoys loved Hatter so much! (How could you not?) Hatter and I loved them too.

Hatter gave me this photo in the American Flag frame. A prized possession of his and that made it mean so much to me. He loved this photo so much that I fixed it up in photoshop and his friend Patty Cake made laminated copies for Stan to sell.

Stanley loved life so much. He called me nearly every day since I met him and would always say, " I woke up and it a great day!"

Detroit Photographer Len Beste's Stanley Tribute

He never complained about life trials and tribulations. He found joy in the smallest things. He had the coolest clothes, coolest buttons, loved orange juice, chocolate milkshakes, grilled cheese and going to the I HOP!

He had the most positive attitude towards and trivial hassles that came his way. I think I will keep that as my gift from Hatter. I will truly try to focus on what is really important. "Love"

Thank you, Stanley, for everything...

Gratefully, I have hundreds of photos and videos of Hatter to share and help keep his dream alive. He lived to entertain the crowd. Never missed Sunday Mass, loved his room mate's golden retriever and the squirrels in his back yard. And to my dear friend Stan, I love you, I miss you so much, but we will NEVER forget the lessons you taught.

So farewell to The Reverend of The First Rock n Roll Church of America! xxoo KIMMER

What a shock --to a dear man we knew forever...Stanley, the many years went fast but you were there bringing mad joy! fun and memories...even recently with Patti Smith together in Ann Arbor and at Arts Beats...love to your unique soul star...

You knew you were at a good show if you saw him there. The man always brought a smile to my face. From the first time I saw him at the Cinderella on Jefferson until just recently at the State on Woodward. Detroit rock n roll just won't be the same.

Stanley was sweet man. If it was rock & roll Stanley would be right there in the middle of it. He loved all the bands and the music they played and hung out with everybody. He surely will be missed. Much love my brother!!!"

Kim, I am very sad and sorry to hear of Stanley's passing, and I know you two were very close. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. We just have to keep rockin', knowing that is what he would want us to do. RIP, Hatter, you will be missed

He kicked butt MCing for ? and the Mysterians at the Gibraltar Trade Center. What a rock'n'roll icon!!! You couldn't help but smile when he got crowds going! He told it like it is! He was so witty! So unique. A treat of a human being."

Kim, I am so very sorry. You know The Ruiners loved having him introduce us and hang out with us at shows--great MC and our good pal! But mostly, I know he was one of your dearest friends. I am so sorry. Love you!"

I am saddened to hear this. Wonderful memorial, Retro. I had seen Stanley over the years at art fairs and other functions but did not meet him until the benefit for Gary Grimshaw where he introduced himself to me and then took me over to meet you. He was so warm and friendly. I am sorry for your and Detroit's loss."

RK, I'm still in shock over this all. He always said ....This is handled,...Rikki...He had no problems...What a warrior...I need to send you a clip he did for THE BAD BOYS..There is no one who could do this EVER AGAIN......What a lost to this world. R.I.P. MY BROTHER. whatever is needed to be done , everyone DO IT. Rsj

That's too bad. Stanley showed me the ropes on the lights at the Old Nec, as well as a few extremely weird nights talking to him over a jack and coke or two. He was an original, will be missed as an essential part of Detroit / Ann Arbor Apocrypha.

Hatter was a great guy. From the minute I met him... steve had told me all about his time with Kimmer and hatter... fuck, I wish that i could have been there to see the Trans love house...and the grande. But.. i got to hang out with him and kim when steve flew out to meet me in detroit when i played with the vibrators. What a time... He was definitely a highlight in the tour.He will be missed... Art Godoy...

Thanks Kim and Hatter for the good time and the hospitality... Steve Godoy

Hatter was a great guy. From the minute I met him... steve had told me all about his time with Kimmer and hatter... fuck, I wish that i could have been there to see the Trans love house...and the grande. But.. i got to hang out with him and kim when steve flew out to meet me in detroit when i played with the vibrators. What a time... He was definitely a highlight in the tour.He will be missed... Art Godoy...

Thanks Kim and Hatter for the good time and the hospitality... Steve Godoy

Kim, I am so terribly sorry about your good friend Stanley. He was a very dear man; so kind to my kids. They will be so sad. I was looking forward to seeing him again soon. My heart is broken for you.♥ ♥

Last time I saw him was over the summer at the premier of Blank Generation in Ann Arbor. He seemed fine and did not indicate that he was having any serious health problems, so this is certainly suprising. My history with Stanley goes back to 1969, so naturally this is a sad occasion. I am distressed and curious. Does anyone have the details of how he passed?

Always a gift-giver, always a peacemaker, always a friend. He has touched so many of us in this temporary world. My whole family knew him well and will sorely miss him, but will forever keep him alive in memory. With tears I say rest peacefully, friend.

Stanley became a iconic personality for us at the Motor City Music Factory. Reprising his role from the Eastown, the Cinderella and so many other legendary rock venues. His colorful on stage rap was often punctuated with stories of his brushes with fame and political sloganeering. A total unfiltered personality, Stan was a link to our recent past and a Bon Vivant that absolutely loved a stage ! The world will be a much duller place with out you ... RIP

RIP my brother. Stanley was an icon -- of this city and of our times. He always reminded me of a time when having fun was a political statement. We've lost a friend and the universe has gained an MC. Safe travels.

A quote from the July 2007 Ann Arbor Observer article where Stanley was the featured Ann Arborite. (even though the story admits that he lived in Ypsilanti.)."Asked how his life would have turned out in another era, he replies, "It would'...ve been not nearly as magical. My life has been one magical carpet ride.""

When I first moved to Ypsilanti I joined a band called Uprising and the Mad Hatter often emceed and traveled with us...I didn't know if you had this flyer from a show he did with us in Lincoln Park in 1974..He was a one of a kind and will be missed.love and respect to you and yours,Mark

Stanley talked about you all the time. I am so happy that he and I got to do so many gigs together! I trusted him and he never let me down. That is rare. I had a really hard time creating the tribute for him. It took me all day. I am sad for me as I will miss him so, but I am happy for Stan as he was suffering more than anyone ever knew. He hated hospitals and doctors and he didn't want to be lingering in one. He died in his own bed surrounded by the dog he loved and his prized possessions. Just as it should have been.

RIP Hatter.........It's hard to believe he's gone I was supposed to see Stanley this Sunday. He was going to MC for me again. We had big plans for 2011. I worked with Stanley at Nectarine back in the day. He was one of my biggest fans as I was one of his biggest fans. He was the best lighting guy and MC that I ever worked with, I can only imagine what the light show in heaven is going to look like. I guess we'll find out soon when the first thunder storm hits in the spring. I'm sure Stanley will be involved and it will be one of the best light shows ever. I will truly Miss You Hatter Mikey B"

"..fear of the unknown diminish, inside outside start to finish..."as the entity, we knew as Stanley, departs from this life into the Great Unknown.I only personally met and conversed (one-on-one) with him, during a recent gathering at the Ann Arbor Public Library, where the subject-matter centered around a long-ago band The Prime Movers, and I hadn't the faintest awareness that he was then struggling with the dreaded C. Bless the soul of this sincere and sweet person, and may we all carry memories of his goodness in our hearts.

I met Stanley in 1977, and spent time with him that summer in N.Y.C. I once talked him into hitchhiking back to Detroit in 1980 from N.Y. and that in itself was quite an adventure. He would call me and always invite me to Ann Arbor so I could hang out with him at The Second Chance on Mondays when he would D.J. and because of him I saw so many great bands, and to be his pal meant the world to me. No one could ever take his place on this Earth. What a Character he was.

Dear Kim, Unfortunately, I have never had opportune to share hearts with the Mad Hatter, and that I sincerely regret. I must say, like a mad hatter will do, he amplified a feeling many of us have, and in this case, have expounded uncountable times, that,"every day I wake up, is a great day!". And finally, I can only hope I have a friend, such as you, to see me through my trials. Peace, Love and Rock and Roll, Detroit Jack

Oh thank you Jack! Hatter would have loved you so much. You have the very same joy for life and music that Hatter possessed. I would have loved to film you two together! What fun that would have been. Can't wait till you move back to the US. xxoo KIM

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